Al Jum’a Mosque

What if I told you that right here, where we stand before Al Jum’a Mosque, history was made? It was here, in this very spot, that the Prophet Muhammad and his followers performed the first Friday prayer after their Hijrah, their migration from Mecca to Medina. Al Jum’a Mosque, also known as Masjid Banī Sālim, Masjid Al-Wādī, Masjid Al-Qubayb, and Masjid Ātikah, holds a special place in Islamic history. Its name, “Mosque of the Friday,” directly refers to this pivotal moment. Imagine the scene: The year is 622 AD. After days of travel from Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad and the Muhajirun, the emigrants, arrive in the valley of Wadi Ranuna. It’s Friday, the holy day. Here, amidst the rocks and sand, they offer their first communal Friday prayer in their new home. Al Jum’a Mosque started humbly, built from the very rocks of this valley. Over centuries, it has been renovated and rebuilt multiple times, reflecting the changing times. The Umayyad Caliph Umar II oversaw one such renovation. Later, during the Abbasid Caliphate between 734 and 748, the mosque underwent further transformation. In the 14th century, Shamsuddin Qawan directed another renovation. Even during the Ottoman rule, Sultan Bayazid contributed to the mosque’s evolution. In the mid-19th century, Sayyid Hasan Ash-Sharbatli led a renovation. A major reconstruction took place in 1988 under King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. This project involved demolishing the old structure and building a new mosque. This new Al Jum’a Mosque now includes a residence for the imam and muezzin, a library, a Madrasat Tahfiz al-Qur’an, a dedicated prayer room for women, and bathrooms. Reopened in 1991, it can now accommodate up to 650 worshippers beneath its main dome and four smaller domes. The mosque stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Islam and a powerful reminder of the Prophet’s journey.